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Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Why are there so many species on Earth?Ch.7Genetic Diversity + Limited Resources

Competitive Exclusion

Evolution by Natural Selection Biological Diversity

Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Competitive ExclusionCh.7Two species that have exactly the same requirements cannot coexist in exactly the same environment

This can lead to either:

Extinction of one species(or a change in allelic frequencies of a single species)

Or

A partitioning of resources Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.7

Piping plover feedson insects and tinycrustaceans on sandy beachesBlack skimmerseizes small fishat water surfaceFlamingofeeds on minuteorganismsin mudScaup and otherdiving ducks feed on mollusks, crustaceans,and aquatic vegetationBrown pelican dives for fish,which it locates from the airAvocet sweeps bill throughmud and surface water in search of small crustaceans,insects, and seedsLouisiana heron wades intowater to seize small fishOystercatcher feeds onclams, mussels, and other shellfish into which it pries its narrow beakDowitcher probes deeplyinto mud in search ofsnails, marine worms,and small crustaceansKnot (a sandpiper)picks up worms andsmall crustaceans leftby receding tideHerring gull is atireless scavengerRuddy turnstone searchesunder shells and pebblesfor small invertebratesResource partitioning reduces competition and allows sharing of limited resources.Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.7This partitioning of resources leads to the formation of Ecological NichesA species role or way of life

Fundamental niche: the full potential range of physical, chemical, and biological conditions and resources a species could theoretically use.Realized niche: to survive and avoid competition, a species usually occupies only part of its fundamental niche.Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.7

Evolution by Natural Selection:Leaving more offspring with beneficial traits

Evolution by Genetic Drift:Changes in gene frequency due to chanceUnit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.7

can lead to reproductive isolation, divergence of gene pools and speciation.Allopatric Speciation (Geographic Isolation)Sympatric Speciation (Behavioral Isolation)

Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.7

Genetic Diversity total number of genes in a speciesHabitat Diversity different kinds of habitats in an areaSpecies Diversity has 3 qualitiesSpecies Richness: total # of speciesSpecies Evenness: relative abundanceSpecies Dominance: most abundantBiodiversityUnit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.7

Species Richness: total # of species Species Evenness: relative abundanceSpecies Dominance: most abundant(10)(0.1)

(10)(0.82)Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.7Increase:Habitat diversityFew natural disastersLittle variation in climate and nutrient supplySpecies richness at each trophic levelEnvironment highly modified by life (rich organic soil)Middle stages of ecological successionEvolutionFactors that Influence Biodiversity (see p.133 Table 7.2)Decrease:Environmental StressExtreme environmentsNutrient limitationsRecent introduction from introduced speciesGeographic IsolationUnit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.8Sustaining Biodiversity Rule of climactic similarity Similar physical environments leads to the evolution of organisms similar in form & function Biogeography

but with different genetic heritagesConvergent Evolution(closely resemble distantly related) Leads to the concept of BIOMESDefined by similar climate, soil, plants and animalsClimate is determined by latitude and elevationUnit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.8

Here you can see the relationship between precipitation and latitude.

11Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.8

Add net primary production data?12Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.8Insert Biome Pics here!! (when discussing the coloring sheet)

Insert aquatic layers/info

include resilience & inertia in biomesResistance is the term describing an ecosystems abilityto maintain its structural and functional attributesin the face of stress and disturbances. Resilienceis the ability of an ecosystem to regain structural andfunctional attributes that have suffered harm fromstress or disturbance. Ecosystem stability is the abilityof an ecosystem to maintain its given trajectoryin spite of stress; it denotes dynamic equilibriumrather than stasis. Stability is achieved in part on thebasis of an ecosystems capacity for resistance andresilience.Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.8Aquatic Biomes

Euphotic zone (upper layer in deep water habitats): sunlight can penetrate.Life in LayersLife in most aquatic systems is found in surface, middle, and bottom layers.Temperature, access to sunlight for photosynthesis, dissolved oxygen content, nutrient availability changes with depth.

Scientists estimate that marine systems provide $21 trillion in goods and services per year 70% more than terrestrial ecosystemsUnit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.8The Coastal Zone

Where the action isFrom the high-tide line to the continental shelfWarm, nutrient-rich, shallow waterMakes up 10% of the worlds ocean area, but contains 90% of marine speciesSubject to human disturbancesContinue with aquatics from the miller ch6.

Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.8Sustaining Biodiversity Theory of Island BiogeographyIslands have fewer species than continentsThe smaller the island, the fewer the speciesAdaptive Radiation: The process that occurs when a species enters a new habitat that has unoccupied niches and evolves into a group of new species, each adapted to one of these niches.Ecological Island: An area that is biologically isolated so that a species occurring within the area rarely mixes with any other population of the same species(can be an actual island or it can be a habitat located some distance away from other similar habitats such as a city park located several miles from the closest forest) Island BiogeographyUnit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.8

Explain this diagram in terms of immigration, population & extinction.Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.8

Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.9Could a frog just survive on mosquitoes that just survive on him?

No Way!! Because of the natural laws of thermodynamics1st Law of conservation of energy (Energy cannot be created nor destroyed) 2nd Entropy Law (Energy always changes from a more useful, organized form to less useful disorganized form.) Energy Efficiency: Measure of how much useful work gets done before it changes to its next formNo system is 100% efficientUnit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.9

Systems only go SPONTANEOUSLY in the direction of increasing entropy (Lower potential energy)A system requires an energy input to increase potential energy&The energy input is always greater than the energy outputUnit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.9

Organic molecules (biomass) created through photosynthesis have high potential energyInorganic molecules released through cellular respiration have low potential energyThe C-C and C-H bonds found in glucose have more potential energy than the H-O and C-O bonds of water and carbon dioxideUnit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.9Energy Flow Through an Ecosystem

Trophic level efficiency is low (3-10%)2nd law of Thermodynamics puts a considerable natural limit on biodiversity

Numbers & BiomassTrophic level efficiency is low (3-10%)Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.9Primary ProductionTheThe production of biomass and its use as a source of energy (called primary production) by autotrophs includes three steps:

Gross Production: An organism produces organic matter within its body (ex. Proteins & Sugars)It uses some of this new organic matter as a fuel in cellular respirationIt stores some of the newly produced organic matter for future use called Net Production

Net Production = Gross Production - RespirationUnit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.9Net Production = Gross Production - Respiration

PhotosynthesisSunNet primary production (energy available to consumers)Growth and reproductionRespirationEnergy lost & unavailable to consumersGross primary productionUnit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.9What are the Most Productive Biomes?

Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.10Ecological Succession: When nature restores itselfPrimary Succession:

Secondary Succession:

Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.10Pioneer Species: The 1st species to colonize an area Primary succession:Barren Rock blue-green bacteria, lichen, mossesBarren Sand dune grassesSalt Water green algae, eel grassFresh Water algae, mossesProducers able to thrive in nutrient poor environments Need to be fast-spreading and fast-reproducingModify the environmentmaking new soil on land Providing nutrients (decomposition) in water

Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.10General Patterns of Ecological Succession in a Forest Ecosystem (Secondary Succession)

Early-successional species:Annual weeds (clover dandelion, Queen Annes lace)Perennial grassesSmall shrubs (poison ivy, brambles, honey suckle)Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.10Early-successional species:Annual weeds (clover dandelion, Queen Annes lace)Perennial grassesSmall shrubs (poison ivy, brambles, honey suckle)

Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.10General Patterns of Ecological Succession in a Forest Ecosystem (Secondary Succession)

Early-successional species:Annual weeds (clover dandelion, Queen Annes lace)Perennial grassesSmall shrubs (poison ivy, brambles, honey suckle)Mid-successional species:Shade intolerant, fast growing coniferous treesUnit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.10Mid-successional species:Shade intolerant, fast growing coniferous trees

Soft wood forestMixed wood forestUnit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.10General Patterns of Ecological Succession in a Forest Ecosystem (Secondary Succession)

Early-successional species:Annual weeds (clover dandelion, Queen Annes lace)Perennial grassesSmall shrubs (poison ivy, brambles, honey suckle)Mid-successional species:Shade intolerant, fast growing coniferous treesLate-successional species:Shade-tolerant, slow growing deciduous treesUnit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.10Late-successional species:Shade-tolerant, slow growing deciduous trees

Oaks, Maple, BeechHardwood forestClimax Community

Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.10

Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.10

BIOMASS & BIODIVERSITYCommunity changes during succession

Ecosystem changes during successionDecaying biomass adds organic nutrients to the soil and vegetation (live and dead) helps prevent erosion of the soil which can wash away soil nutrients Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.10Patterns of interaction among earlier and later species

Facilitation:Early species facilitate the establishment of later speciesUnit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.10Facilitation:Early species facilitate the establishment of later species

This used to be a pondUnit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.10Patterns of interaction among earlier and later species

Facilitation:Early species facilitate the establishment of later speciesInterferenceThick grasses interfere with the entrance of other plant speciesChronic PatchinessSpecies do not interact and typical succession does not occurUnit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.10Chronic PatchinessSpecies do not interact and typical succession does not occur

DesertContaminated SoilUnit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.10Ecological Restoration:the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed. The cause can be natural or manmade

Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.10Why should we restore?Moral Justification:For many people biological diversity (biodiversity) has an intrinsic value; humans have a responsibility toward other living things, and obligations to future generations.Utilitarian Justification:Natural ecosystems provide human society with food, fuel and timber.Ecosystem services involve the purification of air and water, detoxification and decomposition of wastes, regulation of climate, regeneration of soil fertility, and pollination of crops.These processes are estimated to be worth trillions of dollars annuallyTo preserve biodiversityHabitat loss is the leading cause of both species extinction and ecosystem services decline Improve biodiversity conservationImprove human livelihoodsEmpower local peopleImprove ecosystem productivity

41Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.10Ecological Restoration ShouldIncorporate biological and environmental spatial variation into the design.Allow for linkages within the larger landscape. (All ecosystems are open systems)Emphasize process repair over structural replacement. (Restore ecosystem services)Allow sufficient time for self-generating processes to resume. (Secondary Succession)Treat the causes rather than the symptoms of degradation.Include monitoring protocols to allow for adaptive management. (Establish a goal for the restoration)How are restorations successfulThe ecosystem contains a characteristic assemblage of the species that occurs in the reference ecosystem and that provide appropriate community structure.The ecosystem contains indigenous species to the greatest practicable extent.All functional groups necessary for the continued development and/or stability of the ecosystem are represented.The physical environment of the ecosystem is capable of sustaining reproducing populations of the species necessary for its continued stability or development along the desired trajectory.The ecosystem apparently functions normally for its ecological stage of development, and signs of dysfunction are absent.The ecosystem is suitably integrated into a larger ecological matrix or landscape, with which it interacts through abiotic and biotic flows and exchanges.Potential threats to the health and integrity of the ecosystem from the surrounding landscape have been eliminated or reduced as much as possible.The ecosystem is sufficiently resilient to endure the normal periodic stress events in the local environment that are an integral part of the dynamics of the ecosystem.The ecosystem is self-sustaining. It has the potentialto persist indefinitely under existing environmental conditions.Aspects of its biodiversity, structure and functioning will change as part of normal ecosystem development,and may fluctuate in response tonormal periodic stress and occasional disturbance events of greater consequence.As in any intact ecosystem, the species composition and other attributes of a restored ecosystem may evolve as environmental conditions change.

42Unit 3 Life on Earth (Ecology) Part 2Ch.10

Mine Restoration in New Jersey by Princeton Hydro

Native Vegetation Restoration (Seropdica, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil), Terrabyte

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK in B.C., CANADA

Prescribed Fire to Reduce Undergrowth Density and Restore Mixed Conifer Forest, Southwest Oregon